ritualistic
adjective
rit·u·al·is·tic
ˌri-chə-wə-ˈli-stik 
-chə-ˈli-;
ˌrich-wə-
1
: of, in accordance with, or characterized by the use of ritual: such as
a
: relating to or done as a ceremony or rite
a ritualistic dance
For Rick, the clincher came in 2001, when he discovered 20 identical trumpets, made from a type of conch shell … . The trumpets were highly decorated, indicating a ritualistic use.—
Michael Brooks
Michael BrooksRitualistic language (such as the oyez, oyez, oyez or hear ye, hear ye, hear ye that opens a court session) separates legal proceedings from ordinary life, marking them as being special and important.—Peter Tiersma
Peter Tiersma
b
: done in accordance with social custom or normal protocol
… made the ritualistic visits to polling places, making a last-minute bid for support in this intense and important contest.—Jeanne Meserve
Jeanne Meserve
c
: of, relating to, or being an act or series of acts regularly repeated in a set precise manner
The repetitive nature of online tasks—checking e-mail, searching for data, sending replies—has a soothing, ritualistic quality.—Maia Szalavitz
Maia Szalavitz2
: stressing the use of ritual forms : adhering to or devoted to ritualism
… the structure held ritualistic significance that spanned several historical eras before the arrival of the Spanish.—Christopher Parker
Christopher ParkerWe can look at Stonehenge not only to envision the ancient, ritualistic people who built it, but also to imagine a version of ourselves closer to nature … according to Wisser.—Jed Oelbaum
Jed OelbaumExamples of ritualistic in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The two families at the center of the story are warring for conquest of a volcanic holy mountain; their various alliances over the course of the film are not attempts at class preservation but rather ritualistic power plays.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 16 Feb. 2026
In the process, its ritualistic and cultural dimensions are often lost.
—Amelia Dhuga, Vogue, 10 Feb. 2026
In the early twentieth century, on the Andaman Islands, social anthropologists observed ritualistic greetings that involved wailing and weeping.
—Shayla Love, New Yorker, 4 Feb. 2026
Other trends are offering more ritualistic experiences.
—Alex Ledsom, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for ritualistic
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Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 16 Feb. 2026
In the process, its ritualistic and cultural dimensions are often lost.
—Amelia Dhuga, Vogue, 10 Feb. 2026
In the early twentieth century, on the Andaman Islands, social anthropologists observed ritualistic greetings that involved wailing and weeping.
—Shayla Love, New Yorker, 4 Feb. 2026
Other trends are offering more ritualistic experiences.
—Alex Ledsom, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for ritualistic
Cite this Entry
“Ritualistic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ritualistic. Accessed 17 Feb. 2026.
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